'They were coming from everywhere' - cockroach infestations rise after milder winters

'They were coming from everywhere' - cockroach infestations rise after milder winters8 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleJohnny BrewBBC WalesGetty ImagesContrary to its name, the German cockroach does not originate from GermanyPest controllers have reported a rise in callouts to cockroach infestations in Cardiff, with one company regularly getting five or six reports a week.Cardiff council reported a 9% increase in cockroach claims at domestic properties between 2024 and 2025.Experts say warmer temperatures and higher density living in flats and apartments are behind the increased reports.Sumesh Geevarghese, who lives in Cardiff, described having a cockroach infestation at his rented apartment as "very stressful", adding: "They started coming from everywhere."Cockroach expert entomologist Dr George Beccaloni said "milder winters" mean the pests living in ducts and drains aren't killed off in the cold.The German cockroach is the most common of five main cockroach pests in the UK.Contrary to the name, German cockroaches originate from South East Asia and are completely dependent on humans for survival in the UK.They are known to carry organisms which cause food poisoning to humans and other bacteria, including salmonella, staphylococcus and streptococcus, according to the British Pest Control Association (BPCA).Cardiff council had 86 reports to domestic properties in 2025, while Newport council had 31 and Swansea council had 13.By contrast, local authorities and pest control companies in rural areas of Wales cited little to no cockroach reports when approached by BBC News.Chris Corbett/Aderyn Pest ControlGerman cockroaches in a monitoring trap at a property in south WalesGeevarghese, 45, said he first noticed cockroaches at his apartment when one of his neighbours moved out."They had kept a lot of their stuff outside - their clothes, their kitchen things, everything, before vacating," he said. "I co...